Actor Idris Elba is supporting a play performed and created by young people in his "home ground" of Hackney.
The play, Pressure Drop, will explore themes of mental health, sharing nude images online, knife crime, family break-ups and school exclusion.
It will show at The Yard Theatre, Hackney Wick, from Tuesday, April 4, for five performances, before touring London schools in the autumn.
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Pressure Drop is conceived by young people working with not-for-profit arts company Immediate Theatre, where Elba is a patron.
It is supported financially by the 'Walk a Mile in My Shoes' capsule collection, produced by Idris and Sabrina Elba and Christian Louboutin.
Proceeds from the shoe collection go to organisations promoting education, the arts and youth empowerment.
Idris Elba said: "I was fortunate to be helped with a grant to make my first audition and I’m supporting Immediate Theatre’s Pressure Drop now to give young people where I grew up the opportunity to take a first step toward the stage.
"When you don’t reflect the real world, too much talent gets trashed.
"Talent is everywhere, opportunity isn’t.
"Pressure Drop is a play from young people, about actual issues that matter to them and which reflects back real life to young people in the audience.
"I am delighted to support Immediate Theatre’s work on my home ground, giving opportunities to young people so that they see the creative industry can be for them."
Pressure Drop is written by Anna Bennett, directed by Adam Karim.
Anna said: "Working on Pressure Drop with Immediate Theatre has been brilliant.
"Having grown up in Hackney and worked with young people throughout my career I was very excited to develop a play in the borough.
"Engaging with Hackney young people at the various youth spaces brought up important themes and provided the seed from which the characters and narrative grew."
Adam added: "We have found a great mix of seasoned professionals and exciting, raw young talent - it is beautiful for this project to be able to maintain its high standard while also be a part of facilitating the journey for some very talented young working-class actors at the beginning of their careers."
The performances are at 7pm on April 4, 2pm and 7pm on April 5 and 2pm and 7pm at April 6 at The Yard Theatre.
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